Rationale: The 63% dome height/opening height ratio will result in a lowered oven opening and restrict the size of the items on the menu..

I guess the answer is clear to everyone but myself, however, I may have found the answer in the FB glossary:

Quote:

Neapolitan Oven
A style of Pizza Oven that features a lower Oven Dome height and more aggressively curved dome shape -- seen in and around Naples and in ovens built by Neapolitan builders throughout Italy. It is said to be tuned for cooking Verace Pizza Napoletana.

I've moved away from the plan to make a barrel oven. The standard pompeii oven seems the best all round oven for us too.

"Rationale: The 63% dome height/opening height ratio will result in a lowered oven opening and restrict the size of the items on the menu.."

Not really. Even with the 18 inch oven height you will end up with a 11 3/8 high door. This is plenty high enough to get a turkey in. For comparison check the height in your kitchen stove, measuring between the lower rack and the bottom of the burners. You will find it is not much more than this.

"Rationale: The 63% dome height/opening height ratio will result in a lowered oven opening and restrict the size of the items on the menu.."

Not really. Even with the 18 inch oven height you will end up with a 11 3/8 high door. This is plenty high enough to get a turkey in. For comparison check the height in your kitchen stove, measuring between the lower rack and the bottom of the burners. You will find it is not much more than this.

OK, you are saying that the 63% rule applies in all cases. I guess I'll make a standard dome in order to have the clearance I want for roasting a piglet

I'm still 'seeing through a glass dimly', my grasp of these construction truths is feeble at best. So, thanks again for your patient response

Yes, 63% is an imperative. Actually it can vary a little, maybe 60 - 65%, but that is what optimizes the exit gases to heat retention. You don't want 100% because all your heat will go out the flue. Too small of an opening will not allow the combustion gases to flow properly. 63% is optimum. So yes this is an issue with a low dome oven. If you build a larger oven, it becomes less of an issue..

Exactly, Lwood. The larger the oven, the greater the amount of "slop" available. In a small oven, you will be limited by the height of the door in relation to the dome, but the width only comes into play when figuring out the flue size needed. Roughly 10% of the area of the door opening is what your flue should be, and a little more is better.

Exactly, Lwood. The larger the oven, the greater the amount of "slop" available. In a small oven, you will be limited by the height of the door in relation to the dome, but the width only comes into play when figuring out the flue size needed. Roughly 10% of the area of the door opening is what your flue should be, and a little more is better.

Have you seen people increase the height of the dome to, say 22-23 inches, while leaving the base circumference at 42 inches, allowing a higher oven landing height and still keeping the 63% ratio? The wild hogs in my area will need a little taller oven opening

A large number of builders have admitted their final dome height ended up an inch or two higher than planned because of construction 'variances'. Unless one is building a low-dome oven to cook pizza exclusively, I wonder how much a difference this really makes.

A large number of builders have admitted their final dome height ended up an inch or two higher than planned because of construction 'variances'. Unless one is building a low-dome oven to cook pizza exclusively, I wonder how much a difference this really makes.

Thanks! That is an encouraging report

I'm almost ready to pour the hearth. After that, the oven floor and first chain of bricks.

If I would start the dome today, it would be with a soldier course (with the angle on top) and then a false floor 3 or 4 inches above a 40" oven floor with a Hendo tool installed on it. Then I'd build a 19" Neapolitan Oven dome above the floor. Apply the 63% and have a taller opening for the landing. Sound crazy?

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